Orlando M. Barker

The Commission meeting included updates from the Office of Opioid Abatement, noting that fatal opioid overdoses are trending downward while non-fatal overdoses are increasing. Financial status of the Opioid Abatement Fund was reviewed, detailing received, spent, committed, and uncommitted amounts. FY26 initiatives funded via interagency agreements and contracts were summarized, alongside the continuation of ten FY25 no-cost extension grants and nine continuation grants. The Strategic Impact Grant 2.0 is under review. Discussions included advancing the timeline for the Behavioral Health Urgent Care Feasibility Study, inviting specific organizations (Pathways to Housing DC, Octane, Transformers) to present on various initiatives, and emphasizing the need for improved data access and transparency through an integrated data engine. Subcommittee updates covered the Prevention Subcommittee's focus on data collection regarding individuals not in treatment using a 'No Wrong Door' questionnaire, the Harm Reduction Subcommittee's renaming to the Community Risk Reduction Subcommittee and discussion of supportive housing spectrums, and the Treatment & Recovery Subcommittee's prioritization of strengthening the peer recovery workforce infrastructure. Grantee presentations included updates from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner regarding data maintenance and the use of abatement funds for toxicology operations; presentations from Young Women's Project and Samaritan Inns were deferred. Public comments were heard, and the meeting concluded.

The meeting agenda covered several key areas including a review of the commission's membership, which was recently reduced from 21 to 15 members due to D.C. Law 26-55. The election of a new Commission Chair was postponed until the membership changes are resolved. Updates on the Opioid Abatement Fund indicated total deposits of $32,418,137 with $17,933,562 available. Two new initiatives were discussed: the Safe Syringe Service Program (SSP), which requires new local funding, and the Regional Addiction Prevention (RAP) Program, which aims to renovate beds and provide staff incentives. Discussions also included the Contingency Management initiative, which utilizes a digital platform for individuals with Substance Use Disorder (SUD)/Opioid Use Disorder (OUD), and the goals and objectives of the Peer Workforce Subcommittee, focusing on data collection, policy alignment, and sustainability for the peer workforce. Finally, a presentation was given by Octane Public Relations regarding the 'Know Your Path' media campaign designed to raise awareness about SUDs and available resources.

This document provides a progress report and updated recommendations for the Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) system of the District of Columbia's School Behavioral Health (SBH) Program, covering April 2023 to March 2024. It outlines a phased implementation approach, focusing on enhancing data collection, improving staff capacity for CQI activities, and ensuring stakeholder engagement. Key recommendations include extending Phase 1 through the 2024-2025 school year, dedicating specific staff to CQI roles, and consistently reviewing clinician activity and student assessment data. The plan aims to identify effective practices, address areas for improvement, and provide data-informed support for the SBH expansion.

This document details an evaluation plan for the District of Columbia's initiative to expand access to school-based behavioral health supports within DC Public Schools and DC Public Charter Schools. The plan focuses on process and outcomes evaluations, addressing key questions related to the implementation of expansion activities, associated barriers and facilitators, quality and uptake of supports, and the overall impact on youth, families, schools, and staff. The evaluation aims to provide insights into implementation quality, track progress toward desired outcomes, and offer timely, actionable recommendations for program improvement and sustained behavioral health supports in schools.

This document outlines Child Trends' recommendations for developing a phased Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) system for the District of Columbia's School Behavioral Health Expansion. The system is designed to identify successful aspects, areas for improvement, and tailor supports for specific schools and community-based organizations. It proposes three phases: CQI Establishment, CQI Refinement, and CQI Expansion, involving a continuous cycle of data collection, input, summarization, review with stakeholders, and monitoring to enable data-informed decision-making and ongoing support for the initiative.